David Rische

I was recently honored to be chosen for Jon Gordon’s latest Book Launch Team. This was my first time to be on a team like this, so I didn’t know what to expect. We basically read the book, posted quotes on a private FB page and Twitter, wrote a review on Amazon, and now encourage others to read/purchase it.

I have already read several of Gordon’s books – so I was envisioning a basic review of past material. Maybe a few motivational moments and inspirational stories woven throughout the chapters. This book FAR exceeded my expectations. It provides a tremendous life philosophy, testimonies of those living out his principles of positivity, and simple action steps you can immediately implement that will produce results. Don’t let the title fool you – everyone can be a leader somehow and somewhere. From the family room, boardroom, classroom (students and teachers), sports field (coaches and players), neighborhood, at any job in any position at any age, and church volunteers. All of us have the power to change ourselves and those around us in spite of circumstances. Here are my top ten quotes or insights from The Power of Positive Leadership (these come from the uncorrected proof version):

1. “We are not positive because life is easy. We are positive because life can be hard.” (pg.7)
2. “Pessimists don’t change the world. Critics write words but they don’t write the future. Naysayers talk about problems but they don’t solve them. Throughout history we see that it’s the optimists, the believers, the dreamers, the doers, and the positive leaders who change the world.” (pg. 9)
3. “Your most important job as leader is to drive the culture – and not just any culture. You must create a positive culture that energizes and encourages people, fosters connected relationships and great teamwork, empowers and enables people to learn and grow, and provides an opportunity for people to do their best work.” (pg. 16)
4. (From Dr. James Gills who completed a double triathlon six times, last when he was 59 years old): “I’ve learned to talk to myself instead of listen to myself.” (J. Gordon) “Too often we listen to ourselves and hear all the complaints, self-doubt, fear, and negativity that lead to unhappiness, failure and unfulfilled goals. But just because you have a negative thought doesn’t mean you have to believe it.” (pg. 52)
5. “Anyone pursuing anything worthwhile will fail and fail often. I certainly have failed many times, but when I look back I realize I wasn’t failing, I was growing, I was becoming.” (pg. 54)
6. ” . . . fear and faith have one thing in common. They both believe in a future that hasn’t happened yet.  . . .  Why wouldn’t we choose to believe in a positive future? Why wouldn’t we choose to believe our best days are ahead of us, not behind us.” (pg. 66)
7. “One of the biggest mistakes leaders make is that they ignore the negativity within their team and organization. They allow it to breed and grow, and it eventually sabotages the team and organization. You must address the negativity. Confront it, transform it, or remove it.” (pg. 71)
8. “People follow the leader first and their vision second. What you say is important, but who you are is even more important.” (pg.101)
9. “Positive communicators also spread positive gossip. Instead of sharing negative gossip, be the kind of communicator who spreads positive news about people.” (pg. 111)
10. “However with leadership comes scrutiny, praise, critics, and attacks. A leader could find a cure for cancer and would still have some people criticize them for it . . . Positive leaders don’t work in a tranquil sea of positivity, but in the storms of adversity and negativity. Leadership is knowing that the critics will criticize you but still saying what needs to be said and doing what needs to be done.” (pg. 175)

Phew! I could easily had triple the amount of quotes. This is a life changing book to have on your shelf, and re-read at least once a year. Available on Amazon or at your favorite retailer.

Blessings,

Dave 🙂

Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand. (Proverbs 19:21)

Are you a “Planner”, or do you like to “Fly by the seat of your pants”? I’m a total Planner. Thus, the inspiration for this blog.

BTW – I borrowed the picture from the internet, I have no idea who originally created it. Let me know if it is you. 🙂
I had extensively planned for about 8 months a Orlando Spring Break vacation for my daughter’s senior trip. We had never been there as a family – so I read endless books, conducted extensive interviews and interrogations with those that had been past visitors, and combed the Internet for anything related to this magical place. This was going to be the greatest family trip we (or anyone else in history) had ever taken. This time, I was going to do everything right. No room for error. Pure joy. Every activity would be on a precise schedule – just like Robert Deniro’s character in Meet the Parents.

The trip got off to a rough start when I noticed a sharp discomfort in my lower back around 5:30 am at DFW Airport. Thought it was a cramp, nerves, or some other nuance that would go away. We boarded the flight, and those uncomfortable airplane seats were even more uncomfortable. Three hours later, I was writhing in pain – I literally started crawling on the floor of the terminal at the Orlando airport. Was this “The Big One” like Fred Sanford used to say? Were one of my major organs giving out? Appendix bursting? We found a saint of a cab driver that sped us to a close and quality ER. About 5 hours later, I had passed my first kidney stone! Okay, this wasn’t in the plans. However, the medical staff patched me up – and I was screaming in exhilaration as we rode The Everest Expedition Roller Coaster that evening. Slight “blip” in the plans, but we would hit the next few days with a vengeance. Universal Studios and Harry Potter World were tomorrow.

In spite of getting up at the crack of dawn, it seemed as though tens of thousands of other people had that same idea. As the lines allowed, we rode every ride we could between the two Universal Parks (some marketing genius out there conceived the idea of splitting up the Harry Potter World into two worlds – I would love to say it was for the benefit of the consumers, but it was so they can double their moolah intake). We were exhausted, but tomorrow was The Magic Kingdom – and I was determined to see my plans to fruition.

Our hotel was about 20 minutes away from The Magic Kingdom. They offered a “free shuttle” that left at 7 am and dropped everyone off at Epcot (which I was informed is the center hub for all Disney park transportation). Thought we’d save a few bucks and not use a taxi or Uber. Sounded perfect – The Kingdom opens at 8, leave at 7, arrive between 7:30-7:45, scan our tickets, and we would be in! Everyone had advised us to get there right as the park opens, and you can experience at least 3 major rides before the crowd hits. That advice combined with 3 Fastpasses – I envisioned myself joyfully singing, “Yo-ho, Yo-ho, a Pirate’s Life for Me!” We had the potential of enjoying 6 major rides before the clock struck noon – boom!

The trend of the majority of my plans not going as I had hoped once again began to rear its ugly head. I first became suspicious when our “shuttle” was a giant charter bus. “Wow, that’s nice of them to provide such a big bus for one hotel” I thought in my ever increasingly fatigued, naive, and delusional mind. Even though we are not Orlando residents, after about 10 minutes we noticed, “Hey, this isn’t the route to the park.” The bus, oh excuse me – the “shuttle” literally made 7 stops at other hotels before Epcot. The driver dropped us off around 8:15 am in an empty parking lot the size of the poppy field in The Wizard of Oz. It took about a 10 minute walk to get to the Monorail. Phew, finally made it. Oh, but wait – you have to get off this Monorail and transfer to another one. Stood in line for about 15 minutes. Rumors circulated throughout the tense crowd that there was a delay.  We waited about 15 more minutes to get on a ferry headed for Disney World. 20 more minutes on the boat ride – and we finally arrived at the entrance around 9:15 am. We soon discovered that half of humanity had already beaten us to the ride (and food) lines – realizing it’s not really such a Small World After All. As the day unfolded, I soon began to fully immerse myself into the spirit of the dwarf Grumpy – along with some of his lesser known brothers: Pushy, Pouty, and Rudey.

A few days after we returned home – I had some quality time to reflect. I then realized that one of the most important events of our trip was that crummy shuttle ride. That experience served as a great reminder of what it is like to walk with God. So many unplanned stops along the way that test my patience. Not having control over situations and just having to go with the flow. Disappointment. People getting on my nerves. Me getting on people’s nerves. Unexpected barriers and delays that get in the way of me reaching my envisioned destination.  Which leads to the question we can ask in every situation: Is my envisioned destination His envisioned destination?

Plus, I had so much to be thankful for. We were able to save up for the trip instead of charging everything. I could have been stuck in that ER for days, or possibly have had to have surgery, or it could have been “The Big One”. The family had several spontaneous moments of belly busting laughter. A ticket snafu that “entitled” us to 3 anytime any ride Fastpasses at Disney Hollywood Studios. And finally, embracing every second of having lunch in Epcot Italy knowing that my daughter is only a few months away from going to college.

This trip was a continual reminder that I want comfort, control, and predictability. God offers wild, uncomfortable uncertainty – covered with many promises that He will be with us every step of the way. May your journey find you somewhere between the happy medium of planning and pants flying 🙂

P. S. If you haven’t already, please check out my newest book Five Toughest Decisions Teens Make. It was written for young adults and the people who influence them. Available at amazon.com or the Store page on this website 🙂

*This devotional/faith-based book came from my burden regarding the incredible pressures teens are under, and the insecurities and uncertainties I battled with at that age. Here is a quote from Tough Guys and Drama Queens by Mark Gregston that I used in the book:

Their world is different, so their responses are different. What was abnormal to our generation has become their normal. What was unacceptable to us has become acceptable to them. Our blushing has become their humor. Because of repeated overexposure, teens have become numb to images and words that once aroused and offended people. They don’t understand why parents make such a big deal over something that, in their world is ordinary. They dislike when parents question their standards and interpret their parents’ attempt to curb their digital intake and verbal output as an effort to curb their social interaction. (Pg. 32)

*This book took over two years for me to finalize from the jotting down of notes until the 6th submission (ugh!) for “Interior Review” to Amazon. The chapters were intentionally kept short with subtitles for a quick, and hopefully impactful read.

*The book’s audience can be adults, pre-teens, teenagers, or college students (okay, everyone except toddlers) 🙂 It may be used as an individual or group read, extended study, youth group series, or possibly a give away to a young adult looking for answers in one of the key areas mentioned in the book. I wanted people to be able to hand it to someone and say something like, “Hey, would you read Chapter 2 about dating and marriage, and then we can talk about it later?”

*Many thanks to Kelly Rische and Amber Wynn for editing, proofreading, and helping me expand my vocabulary 🙂

*The book is available on my Store page, online from Amazon or Barnes and Noble, or directly from this Amazon Create Space store page link:

https://www.createspace.com/5000115

*Please let me know what you think through comments, Facebook, or email david.rische@gmail.com

Thanks & blessings to you 🙂

On August 24, AD 79 – the residents of the ancient city of Pompeii literally did not know what hit them. The word “volcano” was not even in their vocabulary at the time. According to historical evidence and recorded testimonies, something deadlier than lava projected from the core of the mountain including superheated gas, magma, and ash that formed a giant towering column that built up into the sky. The magma eventually cooled and then fell to the earth as pumice stones. Unfortunately, mixed in with the pumice stones were lithic – cold, dense rocks torn from inside the volcano and carried up into the atmosphere only to fall back to earth as deadly missiles travelling at speeds reaching 110 mph. Within 18 hours, the entire city and its inhabitants were buried under the debris that had spewed from Mount Vesuvius. The mountain hadn’t erupted for over 1,800 years – no one could possibly have foretold the disaster that happened on that fateful day. Ash fall from Vesuvius was later traced as far away as Africa.
Pompeii was first uncovered in 1594, although archaeological excavations only began in 1748 and have slowly continued since then. A massive area has now been excavated; however, even today, more than a quarter of Pompeii still awaits excavation.
Those investigating this disaster had to piece together the evidence of who these people were, how they spent their final hours and why they had chosen to stay in Pompeii rather than flee when the eruption began. Eventually, clues started to come from the victims themselves. Many of the victims discovered in Pompeii were old, young, sick and, in some cases, pregnant. So the team concluded that escape for the most vulnerable had simply been too dangerous. Other victims have been found clutching bags of gold and other precious objects, so some people had probably tried to return to the city to retrieve their valuables.  (www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressrelease/stories/…/09/…/pompeii.pdf)
That last sentence strikes at the core of my heart:

Other victims have been found clutching bags of gold
and other precious objects . . .

The following questions are somewhat troubling: What would I be clutching? What would you be clutching? Am I trying to scare you with the story of Pompeii? Truth be told – yes, a little bit. After reflecting on the story, we are challenged with one more question: Who or what will be at the center of my life?

Want more???  This is from the first chapter of my brand new devotional book, Five Toughest Decisions Teens Make. Available from this website, Amazon, or other fine online outlets on March 2nd 🙂

Once again, it was another mad rush of a holiday season. New Year’s Resolutions are probably broken or forgotten. There’s a good chance our goals have been compromised. Decorations and lights are now crammed away in storage.  However, I realized something different this year. Even before the stores started stocking up for Christmas during the month of July, a familiar theme seems to be crying out to be noticed:

The Return to Simplicity

Think about it . . .

*Why was the original Nintendo system the hottest consumer item?

*Turntables and albums are now once again cool to own.

*Coloring books are everywhere!

*”Settlers of Catan” continues to be the most popular board game in the world.

*A few months ago, children and adults were clamoring to get outside, interact, and experience the nostalgia of “Pokeman Go.”

*The Minimalist Movement continues to pick up momentum and membership every year.

*”Tiny Houses” – one of the most popular cable shows, and the downsizing trend is picking up steam. 

Could it be we need a break from all the screen time? Has the frantic pace of life finally worn us out? Why upgrade to a new phone or game system? It will easily be replaced with a newer model in 1-2 years, if not sooner.

Are you concerned because you can’t keep up with the Jones’? Don’t worry, last I heard The Jones’ have moved, defaulted on their payments, and filed for bankruptcy.

I’ve enjoyed board games ever since I was a kid. I took notice this year how much fun we had playing games instead of watching a game or movie on television. The results of simply gathering around a table were conversations, laughter, seeing the competitive side of people, smack talk, formed and broken alliances, occasional higher level thinking, strategies revealed, and the gift of being present with one another.

Give it a try:  Slow down. Go back to a hobby that you use to lose track of time over. Create something. Draw or paint. Play a game with your family or friends. Get together with someone instead of texting them. I think you’ll be surprised, and want more of jumping on the simplicity bandwagon.

” . . . In quietness and trust is your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15)

” . . .  Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16)

I was reminded recently while listening to a podcast that the holiday season brings in a wide variety of emotions and experiences.

For some people it is family, friends, meals, gifts, joy, worship services, peace, and time off from their jobs.

For some people it is loneliness, missing loved ones, no money for gifts, stress, pressure, strife, hunger, and time off searching for a job.

And for others – it is some kind of mixture of the two lists mentioned.

With the birth of Jesus as the foundation of Christmas – how can we enter into or continue a lifestyle that seeks to rescue people who face the above listed struggles?

Author Max Lucado has done a brilliant job capturing the essence of sacrificing for our fellow-man in his book Cure for the Common Life. Christmas focuses on the birth of Jesus to save the world. This section elaborates on the life of Jesus as a model for how to serve the world:

God’s cure for the common life includes a strong dose of servanthood. Timely reminder: As you celebrate your unique design, be careful. Don’t so focus on what you love to do that you neglect what needs to be done.
    A 3:00 a.m. diaper change fits in very few sweet spots . . . Visiting your sick neighbor might not come naturally to you. Still, the sick need to be encouraged, garages need sweeping, and diapers need changing
     The world needs servants. People like Jesus, who “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28 NKJV). He chose remote Nazareth over center-stage Jerusalem, his dad’s carpentry shop over a marble-columned palace, and three decades of anonymity over a life of popularity.
     Jesus came to serve. He selected prayer over sleep, the wilderness over the Jordan, irascible apostles over obedient angels. I’d have gone with the angels. Given the choice, I would have built my apostle team out of cherubim and seraphim or Gabriel and Michael, eyewitnesses of Red Sea rescues and Mount Carmel falling fires. I’d choose the angels.
     Not Jesus. He picked the people. Peter, Andrew, John, and Matthew. When they feared the storm, he stilled it. When they had no coin for taxes, he supplied it. And when they had no wine for the wedding or food for the multitude, he made both.
     He came to serve.

Great insight from a great author. So . .  what small, unannounced, behind the scenes, and humbling actions do we need to take in 2017 to keep the momentum of Christmas going??? May this be our greatest year of making a difference! 🙂

During this season when we focus on gratitude – it is easy to spend the rest of the year keeping a close watch on what we don’t have:

I wish I had more money.

I wish my car were nicer.

I wish I was going on a cruise like my friends get to. 

I wish things would stop breaking down.

I sure could use one of those Nintendo Classic Systems . . .

Let’s face it, the list is endless. Then there are more serious “wishes”:

I wish he/she were still alive.

I wish I still had a job.

I wish I didn’t have this disease.

I wish I could make things right with that person.

I wish I didn’t feel sad all the time.

Keep going.

I wish I had clean water.

I wish I didn’t go to bed hungry every night.

I wish I knew how to read.

I wish I lived in a place where I didn’t have to worry about my safety.

I wish I knew who my dad is.

You get the idea. We’re all guilty of falling into the trap of focusing, perhaps even craving and obsessing over what we don’t have. We spend mental energy, time, and money acquiring that “thing” that will finally make us happy. We finally get “it”! Yay – now I’m happy and fulfilled!!! Ah . . . it feels good to finally get _______. . . . But wait . . . what’s that I see??? I don’t have a ________. I want one (or however many)! I need one! Got to have one! Okay – what price do I have to pay to get it???

Admit it, we’re all caught in the cycle.

Thousands of years ago, the apostle Paul wrote a remedy for us to bring us back to the basics: “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.” . . . If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.”(1 Timothy 6: 6,8)

So . . . we need two things to reach the stage of contentment Paul describes:

1. Godliness (an active, thriving relationship with God).
2. Food and covering (the basics of life – food, shelter, and a means to get to work).

That prescription helps simplify life. Years ago I heard a preacher say that he wakes up every morning, looks at his ten fingers, and immediately thanks God for ten things to start his day. Try it!

1. Thank You for electricity
2. Thank You for plumbing
3. Thank You for my family
4. Thank You I have a job
5. Thank You I have rights and freedom . . . .

Contentment and Thankfulness go hand in hand. The more we focus on those two practices, the more happiness, hope, and peace we will have inside. It is my wish that you have a fantastic and blessed Thanksgiving!

However, I sure would like to add to my list of 10 things one of those Nintendo Classic Game systems . . .  🙂

I was recently having a casual conversation with my 15-year-old after picking him up from work one evening. He politely asked, “What have you been doing tonight?” I sheepishly confessed that I spent the last hour or so binge watching Monkee videos on YouTube. His reply was, “Who are The Monkees?” I was perplexed, how could he not know about The Monkees? What are they not teaching our children in schools these days? 🙂 I immediately showed him the video of the introduction to their show – and he had no interest whatsoever.

Which made me reflect – why were they such a big deal when I was young? I had never seen anything like their TV show – a fast-moving combination of comedy, drama, and music videos. In 4th grade, I wanted to change the spelling of my name from David to Davy – but I couldn’t afford the legal fees. And this was my first introduction to rock and roll music besides the only album I owned – Donny and Marie’s Greatest Hits. Since 2016 is the 50 year anniversary of their conception, I decided to investigate the story of Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith, and of course, Davy Jones. Here’s a brief discovery what I learned behind the music after reading Monkee Business by Eric Lefcowitz.

The Good

*A highly visionary production and management team took 4 relatively unknowns from an open casting call, and made the group a world-wide sensation.

*Despite the perception, they were not rivals with the Beatles. Both groups had mutual respect for one another, and they occasionally would hang out.

*At one point, The Monkees albums were outselling The Beatles and Rolling Stones combined.

*Stars that had a connection with them early in their careers: Jimi Hendrix, Jack Nicolson, Carole King, Neil Diamond – even Seinfeld & Leno appeared as young comedians on a variety show Michael later produced.

*The team created revolutionary concepts for entertainment that still are seen today:

• Strengthening of the Boy Band concept and mega-marketing of merchandise.
• The foundation behind a variety TV show (comedy, drama, and music).
• Music videos with lip syncing, multiple camera angles, and concert footage. In fact – Michael came up with the idea of a 24 hour music network later known as MTV.
• The Monkees experimented with concert lighting – including the radical idea of shining the lights out into the crowd.
• They planted the seeds for reality TV – frequently their shows would end with unedited interviews with the band members.
• They made reunion tours cool, and also it became hip for parents and kids to attend the same concert – not for supervision, but for entertainment.

The Bad

*A dispute went on for years: The Monkees wanted to be a real band and play their own instruments (Peter & Michael were actual musicians) – but the producers, writers, and managers wanted them to be a fictional band using their own voices, but studio professionals to provide background vocals, write songs, and play the instruments.

*The group fired legendary producer Don Kirshner who helped them have multiple hit singles and Billboard topping albums. They rejected the song “Sugar Sugar”, which later became a hit for The Archies.

*They fell into the basic patterns of self-destruction that haunt the majority of young people who suddenly come upon wealth and fame without being grounded: bad contracts, strong egos, dishonesty, money on bad investments and pleasure, lawsuits, non-stop squabbles over money, and airing grievances about each other with the press. Sadly, they didn’t consider themselves close friends after all those years – mostly business partners.

*The group admitted to being “high” during the filming of some the TV show episodes.

*Their squeaky clean image was basically an image – most of the group conformed to the peer pressure of the 60’s of drugs, alcohol, wild parties, and groupies. At one point Peter had squandered millions of dollars and was living with his daughter as an alcoholic in a shelter for $25 a week. He also had a brief stint in prison for drug possession.

*After the break up – Micky struggled with substance abuse and lethargy. Michael tried to distance himself from the group and was non-committal every time a reunion tour occurred. Davy at one point claimed that “The Monkees ruined his acting career.” He unexpectedly died of a heart attack at the age of 67.

The Conclusion

I had this group on a pedestal when I was a kid and must admit – I was disappointed hearing about all their shortcomings after reading this book. Somehow I had an image in my mind that they were immune from corruption.

However, I’m reminded of the lesson I keep learning no matter what age I am – don’t put my hope in people – put it in God. All have fallen short of His glory:  Me, musicians, sports stars, religious leaders, Hollywood legends, blue and white-collar workers, and even politicians 🙂  “It is better to take refuge in the Lord – Than to trust in man.” (Psalm 118:8)

No one can deny, The Monkees had quite a run for 50 years. Their memories will remain forever etched in their fans hearts. Please leave a comment below or on FB regarding who your favorite Monkee is, and number one song you think they sing. Me? Davy, of course. And “Daydream Believer” for top song.

We had the opportunity to travel to Rome this month in celebration of our 25th Wedding Anniversary. The trip far exceeded our expectations. What amazed us both was how much history and culture we learned about this incredible city. When casually walking, we would turn a corner – and discover some ancient statue, building, or landmark. Here is a small sample from my brain condensed into a Top Ten List:

1) Michelangelo was primarily a sculptor – he did not want to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling. In fact, he had never used fresco paints before. The pope at the time used threats against Mich’s country and family to convince him to do it.

2) Based on what multiple tour guides told us:  In 300 AD, you would be killed for being a Christian. In 400 AD, you would be killed for not being a Christian.

3) Again, according to our guide, the Romans take incredible pride in the freshness and quality of their food. We were served a delicious cheese mixture that goes bad after one day. They claim only true Parmesan cheese can be purchased in their country.

4) Eating dinner is a long, multi-course, drawn out event. The waiter won’t bring you your check unless you ask them. A typical dinner start time is between 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm.

5) Our driver told us there are over 500 churches just in the city of Rome. The Vatican has more art, land, wealth, and authority than I ever imagined.

6) The gladiators were mostly prisoners and slaves. Some of the battles in the Colosseum were just a show, but most of them were battles to the death. A gladiator had to win 40 victories to earn his freedom. Then, he would become a celebrity, join the military, or take on the position of Gladiator Trainer.

7) The Romans prefer either distilled water or wine to drink with their lunch and dinners. I can’t tell you how many times I bought distilled by mistake because I couldn’t read the package – I even gave it the shake test unsuccessfully.

8) So many of the restaurants are small – that’s because they use to be homes that have been passed down from generation to generation. If you are brave enough to rent a space in downtown Rome – rent is usually 30,000 to 40,000 euros a month. Several of the locals complained about the large amount of taxes they had to pay.

9) In spite of the beauty, history, and splendor of Rome – the city has its share of poverty, scammers, graffiti, and homeless.

10) If you ever visit there, I highly recommend Rick Steves’ pocket travel books and free videos on his website. Do a search on Trip Advisor for “The Top Ten” of whatever you are looking for. Find a hotel that is in the heart of the city, and pay for quality “Skip The Line Tours.” So in closing . . . . Saluti!!! (“Cheers” in Italian) 🙂

School is starting – and all of a sudden our schedules are jam-packed:
Sports, select sports, band, private lessons, dance, cheer, homework, martial arts, academic clubs, groups just for fun, jobs – did I leave anything out? Kids, parents, grandparents, relatives, friends (did I leave anyone out?) are all running around at a frenzied pace trying to make practices, performances, competitions, tournaments, and deadlines. Both young people and adults seem to be caught on this hamster wheel of endless activity.

There is a short passage called “The Spirit of the Age” from the book Walking With God by John Eldredge that I believe sheds an amazing light on this topic:

I don’t live. I get things done. My life is entirely task oriented. I wake and pray, because if I don’t pray, I get taken out by warfare. It’s not leisurely prayer; it’s purposeful prayer. I head to the office and start replying to emails. Projects that began with a good idea are now breathing down my neck because there are deadlines to these things, and what began as a creative outburst is now just Get It Done. I come home exhausted, fried . . . Sometimes I’ll try to get a run in – but did you notice the phrase “get a run it?” Another get it done. Even though I do enjoy running, it has become hard to fit it in. Task, not living.

     Every age has a certain spirit or mood or climate to it. Ours is busyness. We’re all running like lemmings from sunup to way past sundown. What’s with all the energy drinks? . . . Not to mention the coffee houses on every corner. Why do we need all this caffeine? And why do so many of us now need sleep aids to rest at night? Our grandparents didn’t. We thought the age of technology would make life simpler, easier. It has got us by the throat. We need to operate at the speed of computers. Seriously, I’m irritated that my e-mail takes four seconds to boot up now, when it used to take ten. I realize I’m not the first to put this down on paper. People have been making this observation for a long time. We are running around like ants do when you kick in their hill, like rats on a wheel, like Carroll’s Mad Hatter.

And for some reason, we either believe we can’t stop or we don’t want to. . . . Like the prodigal son, we are not going to do a thing about this until we wake one day to realize we are sick of it and we want a different life (pg. 115 – 116). 

I don’t know how to fix it, I’m caught up in it myself. However, there seems to be a subtle shift toward many of us wanting to simplify our lives. That might explain the success of shows like Tiny Houses, or the growing membership ranks of the Minimalist movement.

In reflection, it seems hope for the future being better – is connected with things from the past that were a regular part of our lifestyles. Try one or all of these to slow down just a bit:

1. Take a walk, jog, or bike ride.
2. Intentionally turn of electronic devices for a few hours.
3. Engage in stories and discussion around a table or in lawn chairs.
4. Sit under shelter and watch a rainstorm (when it finally happens).
5. Try sitting still in silence by yourself for 5, 10, or 15 minutes – feels impossible!
6. Play a classic board game – it’s amazing how competitive spirits and smack talking show up.
7. Replace TV and the Internet with reading a hardback or paperback book.

These suggestions won’t fix everything, but it is a start to moving toward a potential new spirit of the next age . . . Simplicity . . .  🙂